The Metropolitan Police could sell its New Scotland Yard headquarters in a bid to save £500 million over the next two and a half years. The proposal comes as the force seeks to dispose of a third of its property estate to deliver the savings and improvements to frontline policing demanded by Mayor Boris Johnson.
Five London police stations have already been approved for sale and many others face being sold off as the emphasis shifts to basing officers at, what Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey describes as, “public access points.” These are likely to be public buildings like council offices and community centres, although police counters at supermarkets and shopping centres are also a possibility.
New Scotland Yard has been the Met’s HQ since 1967 but much its large property estate – which amounts to around 700 buildings – consists of pre-war stock that is no longer fit for purpose.
“We need buildings that are fit for a modern police service,” Mr Mackey said. “New Scotland Yard costs £11 million a year to run and we now need to invest over £50 million into it.
“It is a 60s building, so the infrastructure and support services that are in the building, I think, from the heating and ventilation through to the IT provision, is from the 60s.”
If the sale of Scotland Yard is given the go-ahead the force is expected to move to a smaller building in nearby Whitehall. The stations already approved for sale are in Richmond, Walthamstow, South Norwood, Willesden and Highbury Vale. Despite the property disposal, Mr Mackey is keen to assure Londoners that the force will retain at least one station in every borough.
“Core policing will still be delivered locally with more officers in neighbourhood policing,” he said. “But no decisions have been made on any of these proposals.”
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